June 2006
BnB SURE is now officially one of the sponsors of the AA Travel Guides Awards Programme for the following 12 months until the end of May 2007.
We will be involved in the promotion of the awards by AA Travel Guides throughout South Africa for the next year and to get this going, our flag flew high at the AA Travel Guides Awards function during INDABA where BnB SURE was prominent.
As a leader in the provision of short term insurance to the Bed and Breakfast and Guesthouse industry, BnB SURE is pleased to be associated with the AA Travel Guides Awards. We believe that this initiative recognises those establishments that are providing high quality service within the industry and we believe that our involvement will assist in the credibility of this type of accommodation available in South Africa.
INDABA was once again a huge success and once again the biggest it has ever been with more visitors than ever before and more exhibitors. A decision was taken during this time to award INDABA to Durban again for the next few years so congratulations eThekwini!
GUESTS EFFECTS
Sadly it is a harsh reality that B&Bs and guesthouses are being targeted as easy “hits” by the criminal element and more and more establishment owners are being called upon to compensate the guest. We remind readers that there are ways to get the cover for this from BnB SURE.
The best way of obtaining the cover when the insured wants to be certain that the guest who is not insured in his or her own right will be compensated is for the cover to be bought either in terms of the Contents or All Risks sections of the policy at an additional premium.
We strongly recommend that an amount of R10,000 (the maximum in terms of the All Risks section) and an amount of up to R200,000 in terms of the Contents section be considered. Cover in terms of the Contents section is as low as R10.40 per R10,000 per month and NO DISCLAIMERS are required if this cover is bought.
HOLIDAY HOMES & BACKPACKERS
We remind readers that we are now able to offer cover for backpackers and holiday homes as a natural extension to the B&B and guesthouse and quotes can be obtained from any of our branches for these new classes. Certain conditions do apply and these too can be obtained from our branches.
BnB SURE DICTIONARY
We realize and understand that so many changes are happening to the policy on an ongoing basis that it is possible for people to not fully understand the very wide cover available.
With this in mind we have produced the BnB SURE Dictionary for distribution to brokers. This can be downloaded from our website onto a desktop with a suitable icon for easy access and this is particularly useful to those permanently based in office.
BUILDING ACTIVITIES
Many establishments are carrying out extensions to their buildings to accommodate alterations that will provide more for their guests but sadly we are finding that in many instances we are been faced with claims for pilferage whilst contractors are on site. We remind readers that any building activity is a change to the risk that it needs to be advised to us.
BOOKING CANCELLATIONS
A B&B in Pietermaritzburg recently took an offender to the small claims court. The judge’s ruling was "if the guest had arrived and the establishment had not kept the room for him, the guest would have been entitled to book into a five star hotel and the establishment would have had to pay for it. So too the guest is obliged to honour his part of the agreement. The judge didn't just award the establishment owner the money that was due for the time stayed and a day of late cancellation, but also for the two weeks that he had booked and hadn't stayed to punish him. He had also been given a discount as it was a long stay and the judge took the discount away. He said that a booking is a commitment for both parties.
We thank the NAA for this article. See the full details of the PROCEDURE TO MAKE A CLAIM IN THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT in the latest NAA DIRECTORY.
BnB SURE BROCHURES
Our new brochures are now available and can be obtained from any of our branches. These comprehensive new brochures combine all the features of BnB SURE into one document instead of the variety of documents used in the past.
PROPOSAL FORMS
Our updated proposal form is now available on our website. Kindly discard the old forms and use the new documents. If you do not have access to the Internet please advise us and we will be happy to either email it or fax it to you.
BnB SURE ASSIST
We spoke in our February newsletter about our 24-hour emergency claims line and already this is proving to be invaluable to our policyholders.
Also in February we changed our Call Centre on BnB SURE Assist and this has dramatically improved the facility. Europ Assistance, who also looks after the claims line for us, now also manages BnB SURE Assist that provides electrical and plumbing services.
BnB SURE CLUB NEWS
A huge benefit to our Club members has been added with Hospitality Warehouse coming on board supplying a large variety of goods ranging from teas and coffees to soaps and other amenities and delivered direct to the B&B or guesthouse and all done and ordered from the comfort of a computer!
Hospitality Warehouse has re-designed its computer programmes to cater for BnB SURE clients and convenience and savings will be the order of the day.
We invite you to visit the Club website on www.bnbsure.co.za to have a look at all on offer. This facility offers cost saving to policyholders simply by being insured with BnB SURE and we have achieved this without having to slash premiums to do this and at the same time we continue to add to the cover almost every month.
BnB SURE ASSIST TOLL FREE & EMERGENCY CLAIMS LINE
We remind readers that use of the services offered through the BnB Sure Assist toll free line can only be activated by calling toll free on 0800 55 66 77.
BRANCH OFFICES
Contact details of BnB SURE offices are:
Johannesburg - (011) 886-6066 Fax No. (011) 886-1725
Cape Town office – (021) 948-0432 Fax No. (021) 948-3582
Durban office – (031) 563-6611 Fax No. 086 686-8897
Managers: Johannesburg – Linda van Dijk
Cape Town - Trudy Venter
Durban - Vaneshri Govender
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:
"In the business world, the rear-view mirror is always clearer than the windshield"
Warren Buffet
